Moderately Acclaimed 3 (MA3) - Round 1.7

[Brad]

Round 1.7
Vote for your favorite in each matchup.
Remember, anyone can vote as long as they've heard both albums!
Deadline = April 23rd 10am EST

1. Wire - 154 vs. Todd Rundgren - A Wizard, A True Star
2. Chicago - Chicago Transit Authority vs. Dire Straits - Making Movies
3. The Allman Brothers - Brothers and Sisters vs. Tom Petty - Wildflowers
4. Nina Simone - Jazz Played in an Exclusive Side vs. Judee Sill - Heart Food

Turn the beat around!

[Stephan]

The Nina Simone album is actually called Little Girl Blue, I believe, and although I think my pick won't survive against her I believe Judee is the better woman in the matchup. I wish Henry had nominated one of the albums that still had Duane on it (i.e. the debut or Idlewild South) rather than Brothers and Sisters, but my newfound appreciation of Duane Allman still gets the album the win even though he's not on it. Why some of the 27 Club people are remembered so well and Duane is not, even though he died younger and was more talented than all of them, is a mystery to me. I was stunned when I saw the average RYM rating At Fillmore East has from my friends (mostly AMers): 3.12. What?! Nicolas, 3 stars? Petri, 1.5?! dr_Robert, 1?!?!?! We need to get some more Duane lovin' on these forums.

1. Judee Sill - Heart Food
2. Nina Simone - Little Girl Blue (Best Loser Trophy)
3. Todd Rundgren - A Wizard, A True Star
4. The Allman Brothers - Brothers and Sisters
5. Dire Straits - Making Movies
6. Wire - 154
7. Chicago - The Chicago Transit Authority
8. Tom Petty - Wildflowers (Best #8 Trophy)

[Greg]

1. Todd Rundgren - A Wizard, A True Star
2. Dire Straits - Making Movies
3. The Allman Brothers - Brothers and Sisters
4. Judee Sill - Heart Food

[Jirin]

7/1

Wire - 154 8/10
Todd Rundgren - A Wizard/A True Star 9/10

Based on what I've previously heard from these two acts I would have expected to go with Wire. But I like this a lot better than Something/Anything.

7/2

Chicago - Chicago Transit Authority (#467)
Dire Straits - Making Movies 8/10

I'm a fan of Brothers In Arms but I'd never heard this. I like it, it has a sort of Lou Reed feel to it. But, I will just barely give it to Chicago.

7/3

The Allman Brothers - Brothers and Sisters 8/10
Tom Petty - Wildflowers 7/10

Tom Petty's always good for some well crafted pop songs with good chord progressions, but his delievery just lacks the emotional punch it feels like it should have. There's an emotional disconnect between his voice and his lyrics.

7/4

Nina Simone - Jazz as Played in an Exclusive Side Street Club 8/10
Judee Sill - Heart Food 8/10

Judee Sill reminds me a lot of Raising Sand in terms of blending of styles, except with more emotionally intense vocals. It's difficult for me to vote against either one of these.

[Henry]

1. Wire - 154 vs. Todd Rundgren - A Wizard, A True Star

Todd Rundgren wins this for me. My favorite tracks from A Wizard, A True Star include: Just One Victory, Sometimes I Don't Know What To Feel, Does Anybody Love You?, Flamingo, I Don't Want to Tie You Down, Is It My Name?, Medley -- I'm So Proud, Ooh Baby Baby, La La Means I Love You, and Cool Jerk, When the Shit Hits the Fan, La Feel Internacionale, You Don't Have to Camp Around, and Zen Archer. 154 has some enjoyable songs that could be growers, but for me doesn't match up to AWATS.

[VanillaFire1000]

3. Tom Petty - Wildflowers
4. Nina Simone - Jazz Played in an Exclusive Side

Always thought this Tom Petty album was super underrated compared to the rest of his work.

[Romain]

1. Wire - 154 vs. Todd Rundgren but I love al ot A wizard a true star.
2. Chicago - Chicago Transit Authority
3. Tom Petty - Wildflowers

[Kingoftonga]

1. Wire - 154 vs. Todd Rundgren - A Wizard, A True Star

I came in expecting to dislike Wire and like Todd Rundgren. I left with the exact opposite impression.

2. Chicago - Chicago Transit Authority vs. Dire Straits - Making Movies

I worked as a waiter one summer at a restaurant that blasted Chicago at least once an hour. While this album doesn't have anything as terrible as "Saturday in the Park," the experience nonetheless left me despising the band and all their work. Making Movies, on contrast, contains some of Dire Straits' best stuff, including "Romeo and Juliet" and "Expresso Love."

3. The Allman Brothers - Brothers and Sisters vs. Tom Petty - Wildflowers

I like the Allman Brothers, but this is far from their best work, and I feel the album's reputation is inflated because of "Ramblin' Man" and "Jessica" (the rest is enjoyable but ultimately forgettable filler). Wildflowers, however, is an album I enjoy better than Petty's Full Moon Fever and on certain days even Damn the Torpedoes; it's certainly among his best work.

[Henry]

2. Chicago - Chicago Transit Authority wins over Dire Straits - Making Movies

I enjoy both albums, but while Knopfler's guitar is wonderful, his vocals wear on me after a while; and some of the songs in Making Movies, drag for me; e.g., Romeo & Juliet.

My favorite Chicago song is Questions 67 and 68 (114 of all time). The guitar is blazing, but unfortunately is mixed below the horns. The drums and bass are also excellent on this song.

I also include Beginnings (240) and Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is? (340) among my top 350 songs of all time.

[Brad]

1. Wire - 154 over Todd Rundgren - A Wizard, A True Star
Really enjoyed "A Wizard" this past week - I had never listened to it in it's entirety before and it truly is a fine album. But I still choose Wire.
2. Dire Straits - Making Movies over Chicago - Chicago Transit Authority
Another fun album to liten to, CTA proves that Chicago was much better than the common perception of them. Very surprised (delightfully) at the riskier tracks on the album. They could jam. "Making Movies" is, I think, a superb album. I'm not a huge Dire Straits fan - in fact, I think it was pretty much downhill after this release - but I love most of the tracks on this album... just pure emotion.
3. The Allman Brothers - Brothers and Sisters over Tom Petty - Wildflowers
Not all of "Brothers and Sisters" is top-notch, but when they hit it man they hit it.
4. Nina Simone - Jazz Played in an Exclusive Side vs. Judee Sill - Heart Food
All the matchups were tough for me this week, but this one was the hardest. Not my favorite Nina album, but certainly up there - superb piano btw. "Heart Food" was yet another pleasant first time listen for me... with plenty more listens to come.

Thanks!

[Michel]

1. Wire - 154
2. Dire Straits - Making Movies

[Jackson]

Only heard two of these albums, but conveniently they're in the same matchup.

Wire - 154.

[Kingoftonga]

4. Nina Simone - Jazz Played in an Exclusive Side vs. Judee Sill - Heart Food

I liked both of these a lot, but ultimately I found Nina Simone a lot more directly engaging on my first listen.

[Honorio]

After the weirdness of last weak, this week we have a quite enjoyable bunch of classic rock albums.
1. Todd Rundgren - A Wizard, a True Star
2. Dire Straits - Making Movies
3. The Allman Brothers - Brothers and Sisters
4. Nina Simone - Jazz as Played in an Exclusive Side Street Club

[antonius]

As Honoorio said: this is the classic round

1. Wire - 154
Experimental new wave, the only exception of the "classic" week

Todd Rundgren - A Wizard, A True Star
Experimental classic songwriter, like Sufjan. This needs a few spins to let it all sink in.

2. Chicago - Chicago Transit Authority
Classic rock album of the times, far out lyrics.

Dire Straits - Making Movies
classic rock, sounds very familiar. Not their best album, but solid, though not enough variety. Some songs sound very alike. Don't like the echo on "Skateaway".

3. The Allman Brothers - Brothers and Sisters
classic country rock, which sounds dated. "Jessica" is ok though.

Tom Petty - Wildflowers
Mellow classic rock. "Let's roll another joint". He's much wiser here than on "Damn the Torpedoes". Laid back, even. "It"s good to be king"

4. Nina Simone - Jazz Played in an Exclusive Side / Little Girl Blue
classic(al) (vocal) jazz; love the rhythm in her piano playing; love the classical parts.

Judee Sill - Heart Food
classic female singer songwriter; quite good. Her voice reminds me of Karen Carpenter. Nina's record is too strong.

[Henrik]

1. Wire - 154
4. Nina Simone - Jazz Played in an Exclusive Side

[Henry]

3. The Allman Brothers - Brothers and Sisters wins over Tom Petty - Wildflowers

I enjoyed many of the songs on Wildflowers, including: You Wreck Me, Crawling Back To You, the title track, Time to Move On, A Higher Place, It's Good To Be King, Wake Up Time

But, none of the songs on the Petty album were as good for me as: Ramblin' Man (120), Jessica (99), Southbound (963), and Wasted Words (1884)

[Nassim]

Only one vote for me :

Wire - 154

[Brad]

my schedule's a bit tight this morning... i'll get the results up ASAP but that may be about 3 more hours. Voting open until then...

[Brad]

Results -
14 voters:
antonius
Brad
Greg
Henrik
Henry
Honorio
Jackson
Jirin
KingofTonga
Michel
Nassim
Romain
Stephan
VanillaFire1000

Your Winners:
1. Wire - 154 over Todd Rundgren - A Wizard, A True Star 7-6
2. Dire Straits - Making Movies over Chicago - Chicago Transit Authority 7-3
3. The Allman Brothers - Brothers and Sisters over Tom Petty - Wildflowers 6-4
4. Nina Simone - Jazz Played in an Exclusive Side Club over Judee Sill - Heart Food 7-2

Round 1.8 up soon!

[Henry]

Results -

Your Winners:
1. Wire - 154 over Todd Rundgren - A Wizard, A True Star 7-6
2. Dire Straits - Making Movies over Chicago - Chicago Transit Authority 7-3
3. The Allman Brothers - Brothers and Sisters over Tom Petty - Wildflowers 6-4

Round 1.8 up soon!

One out of three is better than none out of three.

I was not particularly surprised by the results and was heartened to read some of the comments about my three selections in this round.

I don't yet get the love for 154, but I'll be sure to listen to it again when it comes up in another round.